Converting means for forming stairwell storage closet



Jan. 7, 1969 M. P. SCHEAFBAUER 9 CONVERTING MEANS FOR FORMING STAIRWELL STORAGE CLOSET- Filed Oct. l7, 1966 ATTORNGYfi United States Patent 3,419,999 CONVERTING MEANS FOR FORMIN STAIRWELL STORAGE CLOSET Michael P. Scheafbauer, 4442 S. th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53207 I Filed Oct. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 587,078 US. CI. 49-33 Int. Cl. E04f 19/08 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a door frame assembly suitable for installation in a stairwell to convert a portion of the stairwell into useful closet or storage space.

In accordance with standard construction practice, the staircases between the stories of a multi-story building are placed in a common stairwell extending from the ceiling of the uppermost story to the floor of the lower story or basement. Walls surround three sides of the well to prevent the occupants of the building or objects from falling into the well. The staircases are entered from the fourth side. The staircases are arranged in the well along upwardly inclined parallel planes, with each staircase extending from a lower floor to the floor next above.

By this arrangement, one staircase becomes the ceiling for the staircase below so that efiicient utilization of the space in the stairwell is achieved.

However, in single story buildings, such as ranch-style homes, there is no staircase above the staircase leading from the basement to the ground floor. The stairwell thus extends from the basement to the ceiling of the first floor. Further, on the top floor of a multi-story building, there is no staircase above the one leading to the top story of the building. In either case, the upper portion of this well, in excess of the portion needed for head room by one ascending or descending the stairs, is wasted space which is difiicult to paint, clean, or otherwise maintain. This space could well be utilized for storage or other purposes.

In the past, however, this wasted space has not been so utilized, due mainly to its inaccessibility and because of construction problems involved in rendering the upper portion of the stairwell usable.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a means which is suitable for installation in a stairwell to convert the upper portion of the stairwell into useful closet or storage space.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a door frame assembly which is suitable for installation in a stairwell, to convert the upper portion of the stairwell into useful storage space.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a means for converting the upper portion of the stairwell into useful storage space which lends easy access to the storage space thus created.

A further object ofthe present invention is to provide a means which lends easy access to the storage space created in the upper portion of the stairwell and yet provides a measure of privacy, as for example, being inaccessible to small children.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a means which may be inexpensively and rapidly constructed in quantity, which is compact to facilitate shipment and storage, and which is simple and easy for a homeowner or carpenter to install in the upper portion of the stairwell.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, reference being had to the following drawings, from a part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view showing a staircase and the upper portion of a stairwell with the door frame assembly of the present invention installed therein to form a useful storage space;

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away front view of the door frame assembly of the present invention installed in a stairwell;

. FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are cross sectional views, FIGURE 6 taken along line 66 of FIGURE 1, showing means for attaching the floor of the storage area or closet formed by the door frame assembly to the walls of the stairwell; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge which may be employed in the door frame assembly of the present invention.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein a stairwell 10 for staircase 12. The stairwell 10 extends from the ceiling 14 of the upper story to the fioor (not shown) of the lower story. For example, ceiling 14 may be the ceiling of the ground floor of a single story house, such as a ranch style home, and staircase 12 may lead to the basement. The flooring 16 of the ground floor is supported by joists 18 which rest on the basement walls 20. The stairwell is formed by rear wall 22, basement wall 20, and ground floor walls 24. As will be noted, the upper portion of stairwell 10, adjacent the corner of rear wall 22 and ceiling 14, is clearly in excess of the head room needed by a person descending the stairs.

This upper portion of stairwell 10 is utilized as storage space by the installation of door frame assembly 26 in stairwell 1.0, as shown in FIGURE 1. The assembly includes the frame 28, shown in cross section in FIGURES 1 and 3 and in front elevation in FIGURE 2. The frame is constructed of vertical members 30 and a horizontal member 32 across the top of members 30. These members may be constructed of wood, metal, or other suitable material and form a door jamb 33 to mate with door 38 as hereinafter described.

Frame 28 is fastened to ground floor walls 24 as by nailing frame 28 to the studs supporting Walls 24. If necessary, spacing members 40 may be employed to fit the frame 28 into various size stairwells. If additional strength is desired, spacing members 40 may be extended downward so as to rest on the basement sole plates. When completely installed, spacing members 40 may be covered, as by plaster or wall board 42 and trim strip 44, on both the front and rear sides.

Door 38 is typically mounted at its lower end on the lower end of vertical member 30, as by hinge 39, so as to pivot about a horizontal axis between an open position, shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 wherein it is inclined slightly downward and rests on flooring 16, and a closed position shown in phantom in FIGURE 2, wherein it rests inside frame 28. The door 38 may be of solid construction, if desired, but for ease of pivoting, is preferably of hollow construction, having an enclosing border 46 and longitudinal strengthening members 48. The front surface 49 of door 38 has mounted thereon an elongated vertical handle 50. The handle is mounted on door 38 by supports 52 which space the handle from surface 49 of the door. The elongation of handle 50 permits on pivoting the door to retain control of it in all of its positions. The upper support 52 may be positioned to rest on flooring 16 so as to form a step and reduce the angle of inclination of door 38. A carpet or rubber tread 54 may be applied to the rear surface of door 38 to permit a person to walk up the door when inclined in the position shown in FIGURE 1 to gain access to the storage space formed by the door frame assembly.

The upper end of door 38 is fastened to a counterweight assembly 56, shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Specifically, cables 58 are attached to the upper end of the door on either side, as by hooks 60. The cables 58 pass over rollers 62, through slots 64 in members 30 of frame 28, over the pulley of block 66 fastened to horizontal member 32 of frame 28, over the pulley of block 68 fastened to counterweight 70 and is anchored to block 66. Such an arrangement permits cables 58 to be of sufficient length to permit door 38 to assume the inclined position shown in FIGURE 1. Rollers 62 insure that cables 58 will pass smoothly through slots 64 regardless of the position of door 38. counterweight assembly 56 assists in the pivoting of door 38 and retains the door in the vertical position shown in FIGURE 3.

A hinge 39 which may be employed to mount door 38 on frame 28 is shown in FIGURE 8. A strap 72 is mounted on each of vertical members 30 of frame 28, as by screws inserted through holes 73. A portion of each strap extends below the bottom of the frame and contains threaded holes 74. Straps 76 are mounted on either side of door 38 abutting frame 28 so as to oppose straps 72. Each strap 76 contains a hole 78 of larger diameter than threaded hole 74 in the portion of it extending below the bottom of door 38. A-spacer 80 is rotatably mounted in hole 78 of strap 76. The axial thickness of spacer 80 is greater than the thickness of strap 76 so that when it is mounted in hole 78 it sticks partially out of the hole. Hinge pin 82, which may be in the form of a bolt, passes through spacer 80 and is threaded into threaded hole 74. Washer 81 retains spacer 80 on bolt 82. A nut 83 is placed on the threaded end of hinge pin 82 and moved into tight abutment with strap 72 so -as to lock hinge pin 82 in hinge 39. When door 38 is pivoted, the rotary motion in hinge 39 occurs between spacer 80 and strap 76 so that the hinge pin itself does not move but remains locked in hole 74 and strap 72. The increased axial thickness of spacer 80, prevents interference or friction between straps 72 and 76 when door 38 is pivoted.

The storage area formed by door frame assembly 26 is completed by platform 84 which is supported on stairwell walls 24 and 22 by brackets 86. Where heavy loading of platform 84 is anticipated, the platform may be additionally supported by braces 88 fastened to joist 16, as shown in FIGURE 1.

In operation, door 38 is pivoted downwardly to the inclined position shown in FIGURE 1 by a person descending the first few steps of staircase 12 and reaching upward to grasp the lower end of handle 50. Handle 50 may be positioned on door 38 so as to make it unreachable by persons of less than a certain height, thereby rendering the storage area inaccessible to children. A pull on door handle 50 will commence the door 38 pivoting on hinges 39. The operator may then ascend staircase 12 while moving his grip on handle 50 upward so that door 38 pivots downward behind him, controlled by his grip on handle 50 and counterweight assembly 56. When the operator is standing on flooring 16, door 38 may extending through be pivoted to the position shown in FIGURE 1 and access may be had to the storage area formed by door frame assembly 26 and platform 84 by walking up the rear surface of door 38. Hooks 90, hanger bar 92, or other storage means may be mounted on wall 24 or 22 to increase the utility of the storage space.

While the embodiment of the invention described above is at present thought to be preferred, it will be appreciated that modifications or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to include all such modifications as come within the scope of claims below.

I claim:

1. A storage closet converting means for installation in a building stairwell having opposite vertical side walls and a vertical rear wall, said means including a horizontal platform having fastening means for fastening it between the side walls; a generally rectangular door frame having means for securing it vertically between the side walls of the stairwell and to and above said platform in right angular relationship therewith; and a door pivotally mounted along its lower edge on the lower portion of said door frame for swinging between a vertical position within said door frame and a lower position wherein the upper edge of said door abuts the floor of said building to form a walk-up ramp into said door frame, said door frameincluding counterweight means attached to said door to assist in the swinging of the door and to retain said door in the vertical position within said door frame, said door including a handle for swinging said door between positions and comprised of a longitudinal rod spacedly mounted on the outer surface of said door and in a generally vertical position when said door is in said vertical position; whereby said handle may be gripped at any position of said door to initiate and control the swinging of the door.

2. The door frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal rod is spacedly mounted on said door by a support means which forms a step from the building floor to said door when said door is in the lower position.

3. The door frame assembly of claim 1 wherein said door is pivotally mounted on the lower portion of said door frame by means of a pair of hinges, each of said hinges comprising:

a first strap mounted on said door frame and having a threaded hole extending therethrough,

a second strap mounted on said door and having a hole in alignment with said threaded hole,

a hinge pin inserted in said aligned holes and having a threaded portion engaging said threaded hole, and extending therefrom, and a nut fastened on the threaded portion of said hinge pin extending from said threaded hole and abutting said second strap to lock said hinge pin in said strap.

4. The door frame assembly of claim 3 wherein said hinge includes a spacer surrounding said hinge pin and the hole in said first strap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,100,915 8/1963 Pennington et a1. 49-33 X US. Cl. X.R. 

